Iron prophylaxis during pregnancy -- how much iron is needed? A randomized dose- response study of 20-80 mg ferrous iron daily in pregnant women.

Objective: To determine the lowest dose of iron preventative of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind intention-to-treat study comprising 427 healthy pregnant women allocated into four groups taking ferrous iron (as fumarate) in doses of 20 mg (n = 105), 40 mg (n = 108), 60 mg (n = 106), and 80 mg (n = 108) from 18 weeks of gestation. Iron status markers [hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin, and serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR)] were measured at 18 weeks (inclusion), 32 weeks, and 39 weeks of gestation and 8 weeks postpartum.

Fetal cells in maternal blood: a comparison of methods for cell isolation and identification.

Objective: A variety of methods have been used to select and identify fetal cells from maternal blood. In this study, a commonly used 3-step selection method is compared with selection directly from whole blood. Identification of fetal origin by XY FISH of male cells was also evaluated.

Trisomy 13 due to rea(13q;13q) is caused by i(13) and not rob(13;13)(q10;q10) in the majority of cases.

We have used 20 PCR-based DNA polymorphisms to determine whether trisomy 13 due to de novo rea(13q;13q) in six cases is caused by translocation (13q;13q) or isochromosome (13q;13q); to determine the parental origin of the rearrangements and the mechanisms of formation. The six probands were three liveborn children with clinical features characteristic of Patau's syndrome and three fetuses diagnosed prenatally by amniocentesis or CVS. Five cases were isochromosomes with two identical q arms, one of maternal and four of paternal origin.

Domain wall propagation and nucleation in a metastable two-level system.

We present a dynamical description and analysis of nonequilibrium transitions in the noisy one-dimensional Ginzburg-Landau equation for an extensive system based on a weak noise canonical phase space formulation of the Freidlin-Wentzel or Martin-Siggia-Rose methods. We derive propagating nonlinear domain wall or soliton solutions of the resulting canonical field equations with superimposed diffusive modes. The transition pathways are characterized by the nucleation and subsequent propagation of domain walls.

Carotid blowout with infection: management with endovascular and open vascular approaches--a case report.

The management of patients with head and neck cancer can be complicated by massive carotid artery hemorrhage, often requiring ligation owing to the emergent conditions and scarring from previous surgery and radiation. A case of emergent endovascular management of carotid artery hemorrhage in a patient treated for pharyngeal carcinoma is described. Hemorrhage was controlled, but on follow-up the patient developed a carotid-cutaneous fistula with exposure of the coils.

Patients with Goodpasture's disease have two normal COL4A3 alleles encoding the NC1 domain of the type IV collagen alpha 3 chain.

Background: Goodpasture's disease (GP) is a rare but severe disease characterized by anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and lung haemorrhage. The autoantibodies are restricted to a narrow epitope region on the NC1 domain of the alpha 3 chain of type IV collagen. GP is strongly associated with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) allele HLA DRB1-15.

Endovascular exclusion of a postendarterectomy carotid pseudoaneurysm.

Carotid pseudoaneurysms are rare occurrences. They often result from trauma, but can also present following carotid endarterectomy. Treating such pseudoaneurysms can be difficult due to previous surgery and limited access to the high internal carotid artery.

Effective dimensionality for principal component analysis of time series expression data.

Large-scale expression data are today measured for thousands of genes simultaneously. This development has been followed by an exploration of theoretical tools to get as much information out of these data as possible. Several groups have used principal component analysis (PCA) for this task.

X-linked Alport syndrome: natural history and genotype-phenotype correlations in girls and women belonging to 195 families: a "European Community Alport Syndrome Concerted Action" study.

Alport syndrome (AS) is a type IV collagen hereditary disease characterized by progressive hematuric nephritis, hearing loss, and ocular changes. Mutations in the COL4A5 collagen gene are responsible for the more common X-linked dominant form of the disease characterized by much less severe disease in girls and women. A "European Community Alport Syndrome Concerted Action" (ECASCA) group was established to delineate the Alport syndrome phenotype in each gender and to determine genotype-phenotype correlations in a large number of families.

Embedding a native state into a random heteropolymer model: the dynamic approach.

We study a random heteropolymer model with Langevin dynamics, in the supersymmetric formulation. Employing a procedure similar to one that has been used in static calculations, we construct an ensemble in which the affinity of the system for a native state is controlled by a "selection temperature" T0. In the limit of high T0, the model reduces to a random heteropolymer, while for T0-->0 the system is forced into the native state.

Hebbian imprinting and retrieval in oscillatory neural networks.

We introduce a model of generalized Hebbian learning and retrieval in oscillatory neural networks modeling cortical areas such as hippocampus and olfactory cortex. Recent experiments have shown that synaptic plasticity depends on spike timing, especially on synapses from excitatory pyramidal cells, in hippocampus, and in sensory and cerebellar cortex. Here we study how such plasticity can be used to form memories and input representations when the neural dynamics are oscillatory, as is common in the brain (particularly in the hippocampus and olfactory cortex).

Effective dimensionality of large-scale expression data using principal component analysis.

Large-scale expression data are today measured for thousands of genes simultaneously. This development is followed by an exploration of theoretical tools to get as much information out of these data as possible. One line is to try to extract the underlying regulatory network.

Relationships among perceived enactment of autonomy, self-care, and holistic health in community-dwelling older adults.

The purpose of this article is to report findings from two studies of community-dwelling older adults. The focus of both studies was on delineating relationships among perceived enactment of autonomy (PEA) and selected self-care and health variables from the perspective of Modeling and Role-Modeling nursing theory. Results indicated that PEA, representing the potential for self-care action, was positively correlated to perceived control and morale in Study 1 and to life satisfaction in Study 2.

Competition between glassiness and order in a multispin glass.

A mean-field multispin interaction spin glass model is analyzed in the presence of a ferromagnetic coupling. The static and dynamical phase diagrams contain four phases (paramagnet, spin glass, ordinary ferromagnet, and glassy ferromagnet) and exhibit reentrant behavior. The glassy ferromagnet phase has anomalous dynamical properties.

Nurses' narratives of outcomes after delegation to unlicensed assistive personnel.

Although unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) have been a part of health care teams for decades, today's UAP are assisting in the care of more acutely ill clients who are being discharged after shorter hospital stays. This qualitative study examined nurses' narratives of patient outcomes after delegation of activities to UAP and identified the factors leading to the outcomes.

[Pycnodysostosis--common ancestor of some Danish patients. Examination and diagnosis based on molecular genetics].

Eight patients with pycnodysostosis from six Danish families were examined for mutations in the cathepsin K gene. Three different mutations are the cause of pycnodysostosis in the six families--five of whom come from Ringkøbing County and one from Vejle County. One mutation has a high frequency in the families from Ringkoebing County.

Nurses' beliefs about their abilities to delegate within changing models of care.

Changing models of nursing care have resulted in a more diverse work force composition. Nurses (RNs and licensed practical and vocational nurses) have greater responsibilities for delegation and supervision of unlicensed assistive personnel providing direct nursing care. This study describes nurses' beliefs about their abilities to delegate and supervise direct nursing activities and explores differences based on professional and job-related factors.

A new locus for Seckel syndrome on chromosome 18p11.31-q11.2.

Seckel syndrome (MIM 210600) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with a heterogeneous appearance. Key features are growth retardation, microcephaly with mental retardation, and a characteristic 'bird-headed' facial appearance. We have performed a genome-wide linkage scan in a consanguineous family of Iraqi descent.

Long-term follow-up of prophylactic greenfield filters in multisystem trauma patients.

Purpose: The efficacy of prophylactic Greenfield filter (PGF) placement in multisystem trauma patients at high risk for venous thromboembolism has been established. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the long-term safety and durability of PGFs placed in young, active trauma patients.

Methods: Starting January 1992, all trauma patients at high risk for development of venous thromboembolism were identified for placement of PGFs.

Random heteropolymer dynamics.

We study the Langevin dynamics of the standard random heteropolymer model by mapping the problem to a supersymmetric field theory using the Martin-Siggia-Rose formalism. The resulting model is solved nonperturbatively employing a Gaussian variational approach. In constructing the solution, we assume that the chain is very long and impose the translational invariance which is expected to be present in the bulk of the globule by averaging over the center of mass coordinate.

Foreign DNA integration--perturbations of the genome--oncogenesis.

We have been interested in the consequences of foreign DNA insertion into established mammalian genomes and have initially studied this problem in adenovirus type 12 (Ad12)-transformed cells or in Ad12-induced hamster tumors. Since integrates are frequently methylated de novo, it appears that they might be modified by an ancient defense mechanism against foreign DNA. In cells transgenic for the DNA of Ad12 or for the DNA of bacteriophage lambda, changes in cellular methylation and transcription patterns have been observed.